Configuring APL Faceplate Tag Name and Higher-Level Identifier (HID) Display in PCS 7

To change the object tag name displayed in the title bar and header of an APL faceplate so that it reflects only the CFC chart name (e.g. 'VLV1') rather than the full Plant Hierarchy folder path, you must adjust the Higher-Level Identifier (HID) configuration in SIMATIC Manager. In Plant View, right-click the root hierarchy folder, open 'Plant Hierarchy -> Settings...', and deselect 'Included in HID' for all parent levels above the chart. The 'Create/Update Block Icons' tag format setting alters only the block icon label, whereas faceplate headers dynamically query the generated HID. After modifying HID settings, recompile the OS and update block icons to apply the concise tag display across all faceplates.

Executive Summary

In SIMATIC PCS 7 engineering, the naming convention for technological tags follows the Plant Hierarchy (PH) structured according to IEC 61346 / DIN EN 81346 standards. By default, the header of an Advanced Process Library (APL) faceplate displays the full hierarchical path (e.g. Enterprise/Plant/Area/Unit/ChartName/BlockName), which can clutter the faceplate title bar and truncate critical equipment identifiers on standard operator displays. Engineers frequently attempt to modify this display using the 'The object name TAG is made up...' dropdown in the 'Create/Update Block Icons' wizard, only to find that while the block icon text changes, the faceplate header remains unchanged. This article explains the technical distinction between block icon tag formatting and the faceplate Higher-Level Identifier (HID), providing the exact procedure to configure concise faceplate headers.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

Plant Hierarchy Structure, Higher-Level Identifier (HID), and Faceplate Title Resolution:

Block Icon Tag Formatting vs Faceplate Header Resolution:
When running Options -> Plant Hierarchy -> Create/Update Block Icons, the setting 'The object name TAG is made up...' controls ONLY the static or dynamic string written into the Tag or TagText attribute of the generated block icon on the PDL screen.
The APL Faceplate title bar and header (@pg_apl_header.pdl) do not read the block icon's visual text attribute.
Instead, when an operator clicks a block icon, the WinCC C-script @OpenAPLFaceplate passes the technological block's base tag prefix to the faceplate. The faceplate queries the internal WinCC tag attributes, extracting the block instance's configured Higher-Level Identifier (HID) (or Plant Identifier / AKZ) and Comment.
Higher-Level Identifier (HID) Mechanics in Plant Hierarchy:
In SIMATIC Manager Plant View, the Plant Hierarchy defines the structural nesting of the facility (Levels 1 through 8).
Under Plant Hierarchy -> Settings, each level has a checkbox named 'Included in HID'.
If Level 1 (Plant) and Level 2 (Area) have 'Included in HID' checked, their folder names are concatenated to form the HID string (e.g., Plant_Area_Chart).
If 'Included in HID' is unchecked for those upper levels, the compiler excludes them from the generated HID, producing a concise string containing only the selected levels (e.g., just Chart or Unit_Chart).
Impact of OS Compilation on HID Propagation:
Modifying Plant Hierarchy HID settings alters how the OS Compiler generates WinCC message origin texts and tag dictionary attributes in the SQL database.
A subsequent Compile OS (with 'Tags and messages' selected) is mandatory to propagate the modified HID into the WinCC runtime project database.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Inspect Current Plant Hierarchy Settings in SIMATIC Manager:
* In SIMATIC Manager, switch to Plant View (View -> Plant View).
* Right-click the project root or top hierarchy folder and select Plant Hierarchy -> Settings....
* The 'Customize Plant Hierarchy' dialog opens, displaying the configured hierarchy levels (e.g. Level 1 to Level 5).
Modify 'Included in HID' Checkboxes:
* Identify the parent hierarchy levels that you wish to exclude from the faceplate title (e.g., Site, Area).
* Uncheck the box Included in HID for each of those upper levels.
* Ensure Included in HID remains checked ONLY for the specific level representing the equipment (e.g., Chart level or Unit level).
* Review the delimiter character (default is / or -) and character length limits for each level.
* Click OK to apply the changes across the multiproject.
Compile the OS Project:
* Right-click the OS project in SIMATIC Manager and select Compile.
* Select the target OS server(s).
* Under the compilation scope, select Entire OS (or Changes) and ensure Tags and messages is checked.
* Execute the compilation to regenerate the WinCC tag dictionary and HID database tables.
Regenerate Block Icons:
* Right-click the OS project in SIMATIC Manager and select Plant Hierarchy -> Create/Update Block Icons.
* Ensure the target pictures are selected.
* Under 'The object name TAG is made up...', select the desired format to maintain consistency between block icons and faceplates.
* Click OK to update all block icons.

Verification

Open WinCC Explorer on the Engineering Station and start Runtime.
Navigate to a process picture containing the modified block (e.g. VLV1).
Click the block icon to open the APL faceplate.
Inspect the top title bar and header area of the faceplate.
Verify that the displayed tag name now shows strictly the concise name (VLV1) without the full parent hierarchy folder path.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Altering 'Included in HID' modifies the Higher-Level Identifier across the entire plant hierarchy for that project level. This change modifies the 'Origin' text in WinCC Alarm Logging for newly generated alarms; historical alarm records already stored in the SQL archive will retain the old hierarchical string. If external MES, ERP, or Historian systems query WinCC tags by HID, verify that changing the HID does not disrupt third-party communication mappings.

Engineer FAQ

Why didn't changing 'The object name TAG is made up...' change the faceplate header?

That setting affects only the block icon visual property (Tag / TagText). Faceplate headers read the Higher-Level Identifier (HID) generated by the Plant Hierarchy settings.

Where do I configure which hierarchy levels are included in the HID?

In SIMATIC Manager Plant View: right-click hierarchy folder -> Plant Hierarchy -> Settings... and toggle 'Included in HID'.

Do I need to compile the OS after changing HID settings?

Yes, an OS Compilation with 'Tags and messages' is mandatory to update the WinCC SQL tag dictionary and alarm origins.

Will changing the HID break existing WinCC trend archives?

If archive tags were created using the full HID string, changing the HID may cause WinCC to generate new archive tags. Verify Tag Logging archive mappings after compilation.